Driver Services

General Requirements

If you operate a motor vehicle on public roadways in Delaware, you are required to have a driver's license and you must carry it with you. You are required to obtain a Delaware driver's license within 60 days after becoming a bonafide Delaware resident. Delaware requires the use of Child Restraints, Seat Belts and Helmets for Motorcycle Operators.

Exemptions From Holding A Delaware Driver's License

Individuals while driving or operating a road roller, road machinery or farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily on a highway.

Non-resident operators, over the age of sixteen (16) years, currently licensed in their home state or country. The license must be in the driver's possession.

Members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are serving on active duty and any dependent of the member if they possess a valid driver license from their state of domicile.

Who May Not Be Licensed

The law does not permit the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver's license when:

You are under the age of 18 and have not completed a Delaware Department of Education approved course in driver education.

You are under the age of 18 and cannot obtain the required signature of consent on your application (usually parent, court-appointed custodian, or guardian).

Your license or driving privileges are suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction.

You are not a bona fide resident of Delaware or you do not have a social security number.

You do not understand road signs in English.

You are physically or mentally unable to drive safely. If you are subject to losses of consciousness from diseases of the central nervous system, you must furnish the Division a written certification by your family physician that your infirmity is under sufficient control to permit you to drive a motor vehicle safely. Medical and Vision evaluation forms are available.

You are determined to be a habitual drunkard or to be addicted to the use of narcotic drugs.

You are unable to show you are in the United States legally.

Your personal information differs from information from other agencies (e.g., Different Dates of Birth, Different Names, Different Social Security Numbers, Different U.S. Entry Dates, Different Addresses, etc).

Applying for a License

How Do I Get A License?
You must apply in person at one of the offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, or Georgetown.DMV Hours & Locations.

General Requirements for All Driver License and Identification Card Applicants

Ineligible Immigration Status
Those applicants who are legally in the United States under the following immigration status or holding invalid or expired documents are not eligible for a Delaware-issued driver license or identification card, even if they have established residency in this State:

Those under the following immigration statuses are not eligible to apply for a Delaware driver license or identification document:

Those with invalid or expired immigration or passport documents

Those I-94 holders without a valid INS or USCIS stamp

Immigration status A-1. Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer and dependents are ineligible, because an "A" status may only be issued a driver's license from the United States State Department

Immigration status A-2 for other foreign government officials or employees and dependents unless they are foreign military official and/or their dependents. Foreign military members and their dependents must provide a valid passport, I-94, visa, or assignment orders to be eligible

Immigration status B-1. Visitor for business

Immigration status B-2. Visitor for pleasure (tourist)

Immigration status C-1. Alien in transit through the United States

Immigration status C-2. Alien in transit to United Nations Headquarters district. Travel limited to 25 miles radius of Columbus Circle in New York

Immigration status C-3. Foreign government official coming to the United Nations, dependents, attendants, servants, or other personal employees of an official in transit through United States

Immigration status D-1. Alien crew members

Immigration status G-1. Resident representative of a foreign government to an international organization, plus staff and dependents

The Division must verify all non-citizen applicants legal status and authorized length of stay in the United States upon the initial issuance of a driver's license (including out-of-state license transfers) and upon license renewal therefore, non-citizens must present their immigration documents. United States citizens should provide a U.S. certified birth certificate, valid, unexpired U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.

The expiration date on driver licenses and identification cards must not exceed the period of time non-citizens are authorized in the United States. This ensures that State-issued identification documents are not valid should non-citizens overstay their authorized visit to this country. The Division will verify the source document to ensure it is genuine and unaltered and confirm by electronic means that the immigration document is valid.

Non-citizens must provide USCIS or INS immigration documents containing either an Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number which can be verified electronically through the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System (SAVE). The applicant's legal status and authorized length of stay will be primarily determined through SAVE. The following documents can be used to determine legal status and authorized length of stay:

Non-immigrant/Temporary - Expiration date limited by authorized stay in U.S. Verify through SAVE. We can not issue document without SAVE verification: refer applicant to the USCIS to resolve mismatch conditions. We will use a one year expiration date when immigration records show "indefinite" or "duration of status" for period of authorized stay. Form I-94 Number mandatory except when Alien Registration Number available (refugee, asylee, parolee).

Non-immigrant visa, Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94 with valid unexpired passport and visa or I-94W for the Visa Waiver Program

Students. Foreign students having non-immigrant F-1/F-2 or M-1 visa classification should have an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status form along with their unexpired foreign passport and I-94 card. J-1/J-2 visa holders must present a valid DS-2019 or IAP-66.

Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation and I-94 displaying immigration status and Alien Registration Number.

Exception: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office verify legal status and authorized length of stay.

Acceptable Identification Document List

Any person applying for a driver’s license (DL) or identification (ID) card is required to submit one primary
document and one secondary document from the following list. A primary document must contain the full name and date of birth and must be verifiable, i.e., we must be able to contact the issuing agency to determine the authenticity of the document. Each applicant must provide their social security number, if eligible, two separate proofs of Delaware residence (i.e. rent receipt or lease and electric, telephone or other utility receipts etc.) and non-US citizens must provide proof of legal presence in the United States.

NOTE: False statements, attempted fraud by displaying invalid licenses, ID Cards, or documents, or misrepresentation is perjury and may result in fines and denial of licenses and services. A driver license may be suspended any time false information is found on the signed application form.

Examples of acceptable source documentation:Please provide ONE of the following proof of identity/legal presence documents:
(This document must contain proof of full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship/legal presence in the United States to be eligible to obtain a federally compliant identification document.)

Certificate of birth (U.S. issued). Must be original or certified copy, have a raised seal and be issued by the Office of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health. Please note that wallet cards, birth registration or hospital announcements/records are not accepted. (If under 18, birth certificate must include birth parent(s) names)

Consular report of birth abroad

Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N570m or N-578)

Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, or N-645)

Northern Marina Card (I-551)

American Indian Card (I-551)

U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197)

Valid passport, U.S. If foreign, appropriate INS document also is required

Resident Alien Card (I-515, I-551, AR-3, or AR-103)

Temporary Resident Identification Card (K-688)

Non-Resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card (I-185 or I-586)

Record of Arrival and Departure (in a valid Foreign Passport)(I-94 or I-94W visa waiver program)

Please provide ONE of the following for proof of a Social Security Number:

Social Security Card

W-2 tax form

SSA 1099 form

SSA Non-1099 form

Pay stub containing full SSN

Any valid document from Social Security Administration (SSA) containing full SSN

Ineligibility letter from SSA (only issued if not eligible based on legal presence status) **

**

Not acceptable documentation to be eligible for a federally compliant identification document; however, applicants may be eligible for a non-compliant identification document.

Please provide TWO of the following for proof of Delaware residency:

Utility Bills

Credit Card Statement

Auto or Life Insurance policies

Voter Registration Cards

Bank Account Records

Employment Records

Rental Agreements

U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation form/postmarked mail with forwarding address label

Other non-personal mail postmarked within the last 60 days

Note: Mail must have been delivered by the USPS and be postmarked or received within the last 60 days; photocopies or printouts of bills will not be accepted. Non-business letters/cards will not be accepted. Each of the two proofs of residency must be from separate sources and must display the person's physical address, not a P.O. box

Please provide ALL of the following for proof of legal name change:

If you have had several name changes, in the case of multiple marriages and divorces,you will need to provide all name change documents.

Valid marriage license /
civil union certificate - Must
be issued by a government entity with a raised seal.
Marriage certificates signed by clergy are not accepted.

Court ordered name change document

Finalized divorce decree stating your legal name. (A divorce decree may be used as authority to resume using a previous name only if it contains the new name and the previous name and permits a return to the previous name.)- Obtaining a Delaware divorce decree

Note: You must change your name with the Social Security Administration first and wait 72 hours before appearing at the DMV.

All drivers must sign a driver license application and answer the appropriate questions on that form. Those applicants who are licensed in another state must surrender their license from the other state. If eligible for a Social Security Number it must be provided.

The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in cooperation with the Social Security Administration (SSA), will use Social Security Number On-Line Verification (SSOLV) to verify Social Security numbers by matching Delaware driver license records with the records of the SSA.

Most driver's licenses will be issued for a period of eight (8) years from the driver's last birthday. The fee for the eight-year license is $40.00 and certain endorsements cost additional fees. If the learner's permit was valid at the time of the examinationand is returned, there are no additional fees. The fee for aCDL license* is $48.00 (*HazMat not eligible for 8 year license). It is illegal to drive if your license has expired. The Division is required by law to collect an additional $1.15 when renewing an expired license.

Each driver must pass an eye-screening
examination. Some applicants may be referred to their eye doctor or physician for additional medical tests if they have a medical or mental condition that may interfere with their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Every driver license applicant is subject to a written and road skills test.

Mandatory Disclosure of Social Security Numbers

Disclosure of the applicant's social security number is mandatory if eligible. Federal and state law authorizes such disclosure. See 42 U.S.C. Section 405(c)(2)(1) and 21 Del. C. Section 2718(a). The Division will use social security numbers solely for the administration of the driver's license program to ensure accurate identification. Social security numbers will not be released to business or private individuals, but may be released to state agencies to carry out their governmental functions. More information is available upon request.